Horry County South Carolina | 130-140 mph Design Wind Speed | Grand Strand Beach Resort | Exposure Category C Coastal/B Inland | IBC/ASCE 7-22
Calculate Myrtle Beach Wind Loads Now āMyrtle Beach, located in Horry County, South Carolina, is the heart of the 60-mile Grand Strand coastal resort area and requires substantial wind load design appropriate for its direct Atlantic Ocean exposure. Myrtle Beach requires a design wind speed of approximately 130-140 mph (3-second gust) for Risk Category II structures, based on ASCE 7-22 wind speed maps and the city's position as a major beachfront destination on the South Carolina coast.
As one of the most hurricane-vulnerable cities on the East Coast, Myrtle Beach faces significant tropical cyclone risk. The city has experienced major hurricane impacts including Hurricane Hugo (1989), Hurricane Florence (2018), and Hurricane Dorian (2019). These historic events, combined with the area's high-rise hotel and condominium construction, make proper wind load engineering critical for both structural safety and tourism infrastructure resilience.
Design Wind Speed (Risk Category II): 130-140 mph (3-second gust, varies by location)
Design Wind Speed (Risk Category III): ~145-155 mph
Design Wind Speed (Risk Category IV): ~155-165 mph
Exposure Category: C (coastal beachfront), B (inland areas)
Building Code: South Carolina Building Codes Council (adopts IBC)
Wind Load Standard: ASCE 7-22
Special Considerations: Major beach resort, Grand Strand tourism infrastructure, high-rise construction
Myrtle Beach's design wind speeds of 130-140 mph are derived from ASCE 7-22 wind speed maps for the South Carolina coast. This velocity range reflects the city's position as a major Atlantic coastal resort community with direct hurricane exposure. The Grand Strand area, which stretches from Georgetown County to North Myrtle Beach, faces consistent tropical cyclone risk during hurricane season (June through November).
The exact wind speed for a specific Myrtle Beach project depends on precise location. Oceanfront properties along Ocean Boulevard and beachfront hotels typically require the higher end of the range (135-140 mph) due to direct Atlantic exposure and Exposure Category C conditions. Inland areas west of Highway 17 Bypass may use the lower end (130-135 mph) with appropriate engineering justification. The WindLoadCalc.com calculator automatically determines the correct velocity based on your project's zip code or street address.
Myrtle Beach's hurricane history demonstrates why these wind load requirements are necessary:
These events validate the importance of proper wind load engineering for Myrtle Beach's unique combination of high-rise resort construction, coastal exposure, and tourism-dependent infrastructure.
Myrtle Beach's geography significantly influences wind load requirements:
Calculating wind loads for Myrtle Beach projects requires following ASCE 7-22 methodology with South Carolina Building Code requirements. The fundamental velocity pressure equation is:
qz = 0.00256 Kz Kzt Kd Ke VĀ²
For a typical Myrtle Beach oceanfront project with V = 140 mph and Exposure C conditions, the resulting pressures are substantial and require careful structural engineering. A beachfront hotel project with:
Results in a velocity pressure of approximately qz = 45.7 psfāa significant load requiring robust structural systems appropriate for coastal high-rise construction.
Myrtle Beach projects must comply with the South Carolina Building Code, which adopts the International Building Code (IBC) with state-specific amendments. Key requirements include:
Unlike Florida, South Carolina does not require statewide "Product Approval" but does mandate that all building components meet tested performance standards for the applicable wind zone.
Height Effects: Myrtle Beach's numerous high-rise hotels and condominiums require increased wind pressures at elevated heights due to the velocity pressure exposure coefficient (Kz) increasing with height
Exposure Category C: Oceanfront high-rises typically require Exposure C throughout the entire building height due to sustained ocean exposure
Cladding Design: Curtain wall systems, balcony railings, and exterior finishes must be engineered for substantially higher pressures than low-rise structures
Tourism Infrastructure: Hotels must maintain operational integrity during and after storm events to support evacuation and recovery operations
Myrtle Beach projects must be classified into Risk Categories per ASCE 7-22 Table 1.5-1. Higher risk categories require increased design wind speeds:
| Risk Category | Myrtle Beach Design Wind Speed | Building Types |
|---|---|---|
| Risk Category I | ~120-130 mph | Agricultural facilities, temporary structures, minor storage |
| Risk Category II | 130-140 mph | Residential, commercial, hotels, most standard occupancies |
| Risk Category III | ~145-155 mph | Schools, assembly >300, substantial hazardous materials |
| Risk Category IV | ~155-165 mph | Hospitals, fire stations, emergency shelters, police stations |
Myrtle Beach projects require careful exposure category determination based on location and surrounding terrain:
The distinction between Exposure C and B can significantly impact calculated wind pressures. Oceanfront high-rise projects must use Exposure C, which produces substantially higher design pressures than Exposure B.
Myrtle Beach and Horry County use zip codes in the 29526-29588 range. Wind speeds vary by coastal proximity:
The WindLoadCalc.com wind load calculator automatically determines the correct wind speed and provides exposure category recommendations when you enter any Myrtle Beach/Horry County zip code or street address, using ASCE 7-22 wind speed maps and local terrain analysis.
WindLoadCalc.com automatically handles all Myrtle Beach/Horry County requirements including location-specific wind velocities (130-140 mph range), appropriate Exposure Category recommendations, Risk Category adjustments, and component pressure coefficients. Simply enter your Myrtle Beach project address or zip code for instant, accurate calculations.
Calculate Myrtle Beach Wind Loads Now āAll wind load calculations for Myrtle Beach building permits must be prepared by or under the direct supervision of a Professional Engineer (PE) licensed in South Carolina. The sealed calculations must include:
Engineers, architects, and contractors should reference these official resources for Myrtle Beach wind load compliance:
The wind load calculator at WindLoadCalc.com automatically applies all Myrtle Beach-specific requirements:
WindLoadCalc.com provides instant, accurate wind load calculations for Myrtle Beach/Horry County projects. Our software automatically handles location-specific wind velocities (130-140 mph), appropriate Exposure Category recommendations, high-rise adjustments, and generates PE-ready reports for building permit submission.
Try Myrtle Beach Wind Load Calculator ā